News
Escalating delays hit £2bn school building programme
Launch of contracts likely to be put back after scheme is swamped with high volume of bids for funding
Laing O'Rourke's head of UK south moved to HR
The change means two top jobs in Laing O’Rourke UK combined into one
Finance news
Council pension fund invests £25m in housing
Manchester council hopes to put in place a pipeline of institutional investment
New finance model to attract £250m into affordable homes
Private company will raise money from investors for affordable homes
Housing and regeneration
Council pension fund invests £25m in housing
Manchester council hopes to put in place a pipeline of institutional investment
New finance model to attract £250m into affordable homes
Private company will raise money from investors for affordable homes
Interview
LOCOG's James Bulley: The fall guy
As LOCOG’s head of venues and infrastructure, James Bulley has just six months to install 200,000 temporary seats, put up 76 miles of fencing, finish the hockey stadium, weed the rowing lake … and take the rap if anything goes wrong. So why is he so calm? Building finds out. Portrait David Woolfall
Projects
Sustainable supermarket: M&S's new Cheshire Oaks store
At this enormous store in Chester, M&S is putting its Plan A sustainability programme to the test. And from the zero-waste policy to the innovative use of natural materials, all the evidence suggests that this is one plan A that is actually working … Building reports
Data
Lead times: Oct-Dec 2011
There was very little change in the final quarter, suggesting that the rise in enquiries earlier in the year failed to translate into increased workload. Brian Moone of Mace reports
Spotlight: Major infrastructure
Vast civil engineering projects such as Crossrail are likely to keep concrete producers busy over the next couple of years, and lengthen lead times for diaphragm wall construction, says Brian Moone
Leader
Green Growth
The government wants to fuel business growth and force a green revolution – can it have it both ways?
Comment
Eco-towns: Back to the garden city
Strategically planned large-scale development is back on the government agenda, but this time it’s less eco-town, more leafy suburb. Building reports
The Thames estuary airport could propel us out of recession
Britain must stop dithering about a Thames estuary airport - it could be the infrastructure project that gives us the neccessary fire power to defeat the economic downturn
Closing the energy performance gap
The government’s proposal to accredit housebuilders as part of its Part L consultation should raise standards
Hansom
Hansom: Bothered & bewildered
It’s been a confusing week with a Twitter campaign being hijacked by teenagers, a secretive networking club publishing the names of its own members and listening to Kirstie Allsopp’s deep thoughts
Legal
Shepherd vs Pinsent Masons: What a carry on
You may hope that a long relationship with a law firm will ensure continuity of service. But if the firm merges or becomes a new legal entity, then watch out for what changes
The ICE Conditions of Contract: An old friend
The ICE Conditions of Contract has been spruced up and given a new name. It may be no more fathomable than its precessor but at least it won’t bite you where it hurts
Legal issues with electronic documents
Lawyers are increasingly dealing with electronic documents. But for this data to have any authority, it needs to be carefully stored and managed
Will infrastructure projects happen without 'hybrid bills'?
The government’s National Infrastructure Plan promises 500 projects worth £250bn - but could they grind to a halt without the driving force of ‘hybrid bills’?
Digital life
My digital life … Reg Honeybul
This managing director is on the verge of becoming an iPhone convert and makes most of his purchases online
